Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Biti Says Marange Diamond Miners Have Yet to Remit Revenue

Once again Zimbabwe's diamond mining companies in the Marange
region have not remitted revenue to the nation's Treasury, according to
the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti. Presenting his State of the
Economy Report for April at his government offices, Biti said revenue
from the diamond mining companies would have financed voter registration
for the upcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe.

"There are
no receipts on diamonds since January. The revenue from the diamonds
could have gone a long way in sponsoring the elections," said Biti.
By
his estimate, Biti said that at least $113 million was required to fund
the elections; and despite the non-remittance of revenue from the
country's diamond resources, the minister was confident that funding
would be found for the elections.

"We expect the UN to assist
and we have written to SADC and to individual countries such as South
Africa and Angola for financial assistance. We have no doubt that we
will be able to secure the funds. People want to assist Zimbabwe as we
have shown what we can do during the referendum and voter registration
exercise," Biti said.
Zimbabwe's Treasury secured $25 million for voter registration, following the signing of the new Constitution this past week.
"Government
is going to publish how the process is going to pan out. Every ward
will have a mobile voter registration center and every school should
have the voters' roll for inspection. This funding will cover voter
education, information and publicity under the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC), police work in ensuring peace and stability and the
actual work of voter registration. What we are now left with is to
secure the remaining funds to cover elections," Biti said.
A date
has not been set yet for the election, to which Biti called for urgent
implementation of all outstanding reforms in order to ensure free and
fair elections once a date is set.